Springbok capatin Siya Kolisi at Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport in Nelson Mandela Bay on Sunday shortly after the Boks' arrival. (Photo: Deon Ferreira) 
The Boks are preparing for their next Test against Italy, at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on 12 July, following their uneven and at times sloppy performance during the first Test in Pretoria on Saturday.
The Springboks secured a 42–24 victory over Italy at Loftus Versfeld. They led 28–3 in the first half, with tries from Jesse Kriel, Morné van den Berg (two) and Kurt-Lee Arendse.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/TL_2418333.jpg "Kurt-Lee Arendse scored a fine try from a set-piece move. (Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images)")
In the second half, Italy mounted a comeback, with tries from Manuel Zuliani, Pablo Dimcheff, and Niccolò Cannone narrowing the deficit. A late try from Marco van Staden sealed the win for the Boks.
It was South Africa’s narrowest home win over Italy in 15 years — enough for coach Rassie Erasmus to call the performance “disappointing” and raise concerns about the team’s consistency over 80 minutes.
Read more: Sloppy Boks win but are given a second-half scare by Italy at Loftus
Nelson Mandela Bay’s connection to this team runs deep: captain Siya Kolisi is from Gqeberha. While Erasmus, the coach who has been instrumental in shaping the team’s recent dominance is from Despatch.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/DSC_2294-copy.jpg "Fans await the arrival of the Springboks at Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport on Sunday. (Photo: Deon Ferreira)")
The mood at Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport was electric when the team arrived on Sunday. Supporters packed the arrivals hall, some in Bok jerseys, others waving flags or clutching memorabilia.
Moira Adams was among the lucky few with a story to tell — she was seated between two Springbok players on her flight.
“I was on cloud nine, excuse the pun,” she laughed. “Before I switched to flight mode, I messaged my family to say, ‘You won’t believe this!’”
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/DSC_3913-copy.jpg "Damian Willemse signs a rugby ball for fan Theo Ferreira on Sunday. (Photo: Deon Ferreira)")
Local fan Theo Ferreira brought a leather rugby ball to the airport in the hope of collecting Bok signatures including that of the captain. He followed the squad to their hotel and caught Kolisi just as he was leaving.
“I told him I was flying to Cape Town — I wasn’t,” admitted Ferreira. Kolisi, ever gracious, signed the ball. “That meant everything,” said Ferreira. DM